Make home advantage count and go for Gold! Don’t miss out on the thrilling action as the two Uniteds go toe-to-toe in a sudden death clash!
Hindmarsh Stadium
Sunday 27th February 5:00pm
Tickets from Ticketek
Make home advantage count and go for Gold! Don’t miss out on the thrilling action as the two Uniteds go toe-to-toe in a sudden death clash!
It’s death or glory time for two of the sides of the season as Adelaide and Gold Coast are United in their desire to fight their way into the Preliminary Final. Will it be Rini Coolen’s team that continues its wonderful campaign by moving one step closer to glory, or can Miron Bleiberg’s troops once again put in the kind of clinical away performance that has earned them so many points on the road?
Get along to Hindmarsh Stadium on Sunday and get involved in an amazing carnival atmosphere as these two outstanding teams battle it out.
United fought their way to this stage thanks to a hard-earned 1-0 Elimination Final victory over Wellington Phoenix in awful conditions last Friday night. While it may have seemed like a fairly standard win against a side that are notoriously poor on the road, the result was actually harder-earned than that. Rini Coolen was missing midfielder Paul Reid due to his contract wrangles and the remaining players found themselves having to contend with driving rain and a swirling wind.
Not only that, but they faced a Wellington side that were buzzing thanks to a four-game winning streak which included a victory at Hindmarsh. Indeed, Phoenix were the better side for long periods on Friday, but United’s hard-work and solidity meant that all it took was a single goal from Travis Dodd twenty minutes from time to send the home fans wild and book a place into the next round.
Had Melbourne Victory made more of their goalmouth chances against Gold Coast United last week, then The Reds may have found themselves up against entirely different opponents this Sunday, but the Gold Coast held firm against the finals series veterans and, as they have done so many times in the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season, delivered a deadly sucker punch.
The home side, who had created more than their share of opportunities too, laid to rest the ghost of last year’s play-off misery by grabbing a thrilling injury-time winner through Dino Djulbic’s header as extra-time beckoned. The Beach, of course, went crazy. A great game, a fine performance and the perfect result will leave them in confident mood as they look to turn Adelaide over for the first time this season.
As well as playing out two tense 0-0 draws at Skilled Park, the side from South Australia won the only meeting between the sides at Hindmarsh Stadium courtesy of goals from Paul Reid and Travis Dodd either side of the break. The result extended Adelaide’s winning home run to six games while simultaneously bringing to an end the Gold Coast’s 11-game unbeaten run. If they can turn on a similar display on Sunday, then Hindmarsh will be buzzing with excitement.
As if the prospect of a Sunday watching nerve-jangling Hyundai A-League finals series action wasn’t already reason enough to make you want to snap up a ticket, then surely the idea of being entertained by some of the competition’s most deadly attacking threats is enough to get any football lover’s pulse racing. With Bruce Djite looking increasingly impressive with each passing week and with talismanic frontman Shane Smeltz giving the whole team a major boost since his return, Gold Coast United can be razor sharp when coming forward.
Their defence is pretty mean too, which suggests that The Reds are going to have to be on top of their game at both ends of the park if they are to emerge victorious. However, in Sergio van Dijk and Marcos Flores, they offer a massive threat too, and with the likes of Travis Dodd sniffing around ready to pounce on the scraps, the visitors’ back-line will not be able to lose focus for a single second if they are to keep their dream of silverware alive.
This game could swing either way and it’s hard to see either team being in the comfort zone at any stage. Will it go down to the wire? Are you ready for the drama of extra-time and a penalty shoot-out?
Reds fans, this is the last home game of an incredible Hyundai A-League season so play your part in what is sure to be an epic occasion. Help your club’s campaign continue beyond this weekend and onwards towards a passion-fuelled Preliminary Final appearance.
It’s set to be a tense, tough showdown against an outstanding Gold Coast team, so your support is vital. It’s up to you to sing your heart out at Hindmarsh one last time. Make some noise and keep Adelaide United’s season alive. It’s do-or-die!
